What Do Stomach And Abdominal Pain And Tenderness Indicate?
pain stays pretty local left side from just under waist to lower abdomen.
yes passing gas or defecation when he can get those things to happen, brings some relief. The pain makes his side so tender that he can not tolerate even the lightest pressure on that area(so can't try heating pad etc. Gets some relief sitting in very warm bathtub.
He takes blood pressure medication since mid twenties.
His work was not physical (formerly teaching, now very part time casual work(fixing computer issues I etc when he is able to.
He had many tests when he first became ill. I cannot access those right now. Most were inconclusive. the colonoscopy caused so much pain that they were not able to complete it.
um, I do not see a question mark.
Detailed Answer:
Several features of pain can be helpful in clarifying what is going on and the next steps for diagnosis and treatment.
Type of pain. Burning mostly means a nerve is having problems. This can be either a sick nerve or a nerve that has had an injury. Electrical, shooting would be others implying nerve source for pain.
Location of pain. There is a lot to this. First, if something goes in the pathway of a nerve, then that is the nerve involved. Nerves are long and the pain is in a belt-like long pathway. Smaller areas are smaller nerves. This also tends to say what might be going on. Obviously if there was an injury to the area and then there was pain outward from it "hit a nerve" would be a possibility. Sick nerves are MULTIPLE areas and tends to be the TIPS of the nerve not the whole nerve
What hurts. Moving a particular way that triggers the pain tells what is hurting. Specifically it can distinguish outward structures like skin, muscles, tendons, joints from deep structures like organs and nerves.
`` Having a diagnosis leads to choice of medicine for the pain. Inflamed outer structures respond to treating inflammation. Inner structures need diagnostic tests because something internal is broken. MRI's.
And, structures that cannot be fixed need adaptations. Physical therapy, pillows, and other supportive structures like braces.
some pain can be from psychological processes like depression.
Other sources of pain can be medication. Blood pressure medicines can casuse electrolyte abnormalities tha cause muscle cramps if not plain muscle breakdwon. Use of narcotics can in some people lead to a dependence characterized by increased sensitivity to pain.
He says that the pain in his abdomen feels like a stalactite has grown inward from his skin.(Well, he is a poet and so thinks in images)
Thank you for helping.
Ok, moving in the right direction...
Detailed Answer:
So, with a bit more information I can give a bit more of a response.
The question on pain is what is the cause. the location of the pain often gives a very good bit of information about that. So, if the pain is on the surface and touching an area produces it (quite common) then it is a nerve problem. Can include psychological. Mostly it is an irritation of the nerves right there. Zoster is really common and is ALWAYS misdiagnosed for about 2 days til the skin lesions pop up. Probalby not this situation, but other nerve irritants would do this. Irriation of the skin can do it. and it is never mysterious, even if it is an autoimmune disease like lupus. The skin has obvious irritation and makes people realize what and where it is going on. So, likely a deeper problem. Autoimmune disease on the subcutaneous tissue is only MOSTLY visible. And then there is the digestive tract. Problems with the digestive tract would have assocation with eating and digestion.
So, things fit together and there is a limited number of things in a particular spot that can be a source of pain.
Obviously an internal medicine doctor if it is inside and a dermatologist if it is outside.
good glad to be of help
Detailed Answer:
good. we are here for any questions you might have.